Customer Reviews

Baroque Favorites

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I just happen to love Baroque Music, and especially Vivaldi. My collection is quite large, but I consider this one of my treasures. Great sound quality, as always with Liona, and the English Chamber Orchestra backs her up beautifully. A must for every CD collection.

My first encounter with this recording occurred in 1979 when I acquired it in LP (on a vinyl record for those of you born after 1980) form. I developed a great fondness for it; and I was delighted to discover it now existed in CD format. Delight, unfortunately, soon yielded to disappointment when a few minutes of listening told me that the sound quality of the CD was distinctly inferior to the sound on the LP. Just to make certain, I pulled out the LP once again; and, sure enough, the LP does sound much better. The CD sound is strangled and compressed compared to the open and airy sound of the record; and for some reason there is a noticeable sound of tape hiss on the CD, which is distinctly missing on the LP. The problem: the CD was probably created from second or third generation copies rather than from the original masters. What a shame. I acquired three other Liona Boyd CD's at the same time I got this one; and there are no sonic problems with them. Why did one of her best moments have to be given inferior treatment?

I first heard this music, and an interview with Ms Boyd, on a plane in around 1981. I loved the music and her. I got it as soon as I could and it was often on my turntable. I was delighted to find it on CD. This is a great album. Her playing and the orchestral accompaniment, led by the incomparable Andrew Davis, blend into a CD you'll wear out.

Wonderful work..Well done,Liona! Brings me back to a special place....

Wonderful, Liona manages again to make me feel in heaven. What an artist, what a beautiful performance. Can't recall anyone even coming close to her virtuosity.